Help Wanted: The Power Engineering Pipeline and its Role in the American Nuclear Industry

Presented by Brooke Buikema

Outline

• Introduction to power engineering• Current arguments for nuclear

power and political attention• Issues facing expansion of nuclear

industry and proposed solutions• Recommendations• Conclusions

Power Engineering

• Generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power

• Employed in industrial facilities, residential or commerical buildings, and power plants

• Involvement of all engineering concentrations

Power Engineers in the Nuclear Industry

Known Advantages of Nuclear Power

• Cost-effective

• Best large-scale source with low carbon dioxide emissions

• Creates secure job opportunities and economic benefits for local communities

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C o a l - 2 .4 7Ga s - 6 .7 8Nu c le a r - 1 .76P e tr o le u m - 1 0 .26

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U .S . E lectric ity P ro du ctio n C o sts 1 9 9 5 - 2 0 0 7 , I n 2 0 0 7 cen ts per k ilow att- h ou r

P roduc tion C os ts = Opera tions a nd M a intena nce C os ts + F uel C os ts

S ource : G loba l E nergy Dec is ionsU pda ted: 5 / 0 8

Source: University of Wisconsin

Carbon Impact of Nuclear Energy Comparable to Renewables

(tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per gigawatt-hour)

Creating Secure Jobs & Economic Benefits for Local Communities

• Construction = 1,400–1,800 workers per reactor• Daily Operation = 12,400–21,700 full-time

employees(plus additional contractor employment for outages)

• Skilled workers earn $65,000-$85,000 per year• Salaries of nuclear engineers are among highest

of all engineering disciplines

Source: Nuclear Energy Institute

• 2004 study of four counties surrounding Indian Point Nuclear Plant (NY)

• 30 years of operation

• $760+ million economic impact

Creating Secure Jobs & Economic Benefits for Local Communities

Source: Nuclear Energy Institute

Wisconsin Representative Frank LaseeElectronic newsletter May 13th, 2008

“The Chinese are building one nuclear plant a year in each of the next 20 years. They understand that to grow their economy, their country needs to grow energy supplies as well. The lower the cost, the better for the economy. The better for the majority of their citizens.”

Recent Attention from Policymakers

Recent Attention from Policymakers

“It defies common sense to ignore nuclear power as a reliable solution to addressing climate change, as it already plays a commanding role in the cutting of greenhouse gases.”

Michigan Representative Fred UptonTestimony on Capitol HillJanuary 30th, 2008

Arizona Senator John McCain, Republican Presidential Nominee Speech given on June 19th, 2008

Recent Attention from Policymakers

“If I am elected president, I will set this nation on a course to building 45 new reactors by the year 2030, with the ultimate goal of 100 new plants to power the homes and factories and cities of America.”

Issues Facing the American Nuclear Power Industry

1. An aging workforce

2. An aging infrastructure and a grid nearing its capacity

3. A weakened student pipeline

An Aging Workforce

• 46% of power engineers could retire by 2012

• Nearly half of nuclear industry employees are age 47 or older

• Mentorship opportunities are decreasing

An Aging Infrastructure

• Restore and innovate existing technologies

• Increase capacity to transport electricity from renewable, remotely located sources

• Development and integration of high performance transmission technologies

A Weakened Student Pipeline

• Recent decline in faculty with power engineering background

1975 2007Carnegie Mellon University 8 1University of Missouri-Columbia 80

Less faculty members =

Less power engineering electives offered

= Less knowledge, interest, and career awareness

What’s Being Done?K-12 Involvement and

Recruitment

• Future for Kids Partnership • Boys and Girls Clubs• Career compatibility tests• Mentors and job shadow

opportunities

• Recruitment and scholarships for high school students

• Two-year nuclear plant maintenance degree– Curriculum development– Scholarship at local community college– Co-op position within plant

What’s Being Done?Community Colleges &

Universities

• Efforts being made to retain and reinvigorate power engineering programs and electives

Recommendations for… the Government

1. Amendment to the America Competes Act

2. Increased grants for power engineering students and faculty members

3. Tax incentives for companies with active workforce development programs

Recommendations for… Colleges & Universities

1. Hire engineering faculty with backgrounds in power

2. Offer power engineering electives to students of all concentrations

3. Explore, encourage, and facilitate the retention of faculty

Recommendations for… the Industry

1. Seek partnerships from local community

– Community programs for K-12 kids– Scholarships for high school students– Two-year specialty trade degrees– Internships and co-op employment

Conclusions

• Innovation in electric

technologies

• Impact local economies

• Increase American competitiveness